Flexible display device

Abstract

Disclosed is a flexible display device that includes a display element that is flexible; and a member that is located on a surface of the display element and is made of a material having a 3-dimensional cross-linked structure. The display element has an original shape and has an elastic modulus that enables the display element to flex into a modified shape. The member has a rigidity that urges the display element from the modified state back to the original shape.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A flexible display device, comprising:
 a display element that is flexible; and 
 a member that is located on a surface of the display element and is made of a material having a 3-dimensional cross-linked structure, 
 wherein the display element includes a substrate, a structure portion having an organic light emitting diode layer, an encapsulation layer on the structure portion to encapsulate the structure portion, a sealing portion surrounding, at a side peripheral region, the structure portion and the encapsulation layer, an upper surface of the encapsulation layer and an upper surface of the sealing portion being co-planar, and a metal layer on the encapsulation layer and the sealing portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the member is attached on the surface of the display element by an adhesive layer. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2 , wherein the adhesive layer is located entirely on the surface of the display element. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 2 , wherein the adhesive layer uses a pressure-sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein a glass transition temperature of the member is lower than a lowest limit of a preservation temperature range of the display element. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the member includes a silicon rubber or urethane rubber. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein a neutral surface is a surface having zero distortion when the member is modified and the neutral surface is located outside the member. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 7 , wherein the display element includes a thin film transistor layer where a thin film transistor is formed, and
 wherein the neutral surface is located at the thin film transistor layer or near the thin film transistor layer. 
 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the member is transparent and is located on a front surface of the display element. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the member is located on a rear surface of the display element. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 1 , wherein an elastic modulus of the member is less than that of the display element, and a thickness of the member is greater than that of the display element. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the display element is formed in a plate shape, and the member is formed in a plate shape. 
     
     
       13. A flexible display device, comprising:
 a display element that is flexible, the display element having an elastic modulus that enables the display element to flex into a modified shape, the display element including, 
 a substrate; 
 a structure portion having an organic light emitting diode layer; 
 an encapsulation layer on the structure portion to encapsulate the structure portion; a sealing portion surrounding the structure portion and the encapsulation layer, at a side peripheral region, an upper surface of the encapsulation layer and an upper surface of the sealing portion being co-planar; and 
 a metal layer on the encapsulation and the sealing portion, and 
 a restore element that is located on a surface of the encapsulation layer, the restore element being made of a material having a 3-dimensional cross-linked structure, the restore element having a rigidity that urges the display element from the modified state back to the original shape. 
 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 13 , wherein the restore member is attached on the surface of the metal layer by an adhesive layer that is located entirely on the surface of the display element. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 14 , wherein the adhesive layer uses a pressure-sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 13 , wherein a glass transition temperature of the restore member is lower than a lowest limit of a preservation temperature range of the display element. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 13 , wherein the restore member includes a silicon rubber or urethane rubber. 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 13 , wherein a neutral surface is a surface having zero distortion when the restore member is modified and the neutral surface is located outside the restore member. 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 18 , wherein the display element includes a thin film transistor layer where a thin film transistor is formed, and wherein the neutral surface is located at the thin film transistor layer or near the thin film transistor layer. 
     
     
       20. The device of  claim 13 , wherein the original shape of the display element is flat and the modified shape of the display element is curved.